Quick Stops

Friday, August 29, 2014

I love Autumn! I love the smell of apples, decaying leaves, pumpkins, and wearing long sleeve shirts. I know it's still summer, but we are getting ready with anticipation. Here are some activities that we just finished up or have done in the past.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Our Classical Conversation group gathered today to dissect a cow's eye. We are learning about the human body this cycle and the past two science experiments have discussed the eye.

This was the first dissection experience for the children. I explained that the smell was fermaldihyde and it was used to preserve specimens. (I should mention that this was my first dissection since high school.)

The children also learned how to find their blind spot. This first dissection project was pretty fascinating and not gross. The children and Moms walked away with a better understanding of how the human eye is made.

Monday, August 25, 2014

I was recently gifted two vintage tablecloths that belonged to my Grandmother. She has been with her maker for nearly 15 years and I believe she is my guardian angel now.

My family currently uses her rock maple circular table. We can't seem to get rid of it. It doesn't fit our kitchen space well and it's not incredibly beautiful. We got rid of the hutch that went with it two moves ago, but the table still remains, along with her memory.

During our visit to PA, my Aunt went down to her basement and pulled out Grandma's vintage fringed tablecloths. She never used them due to her table's size- lucky me!

Shortly after returning home, I pulled those vintage beauties out and had planned to wash them, but the smell stopped me. I felt like the food critic in the Disney movie Ratatouille as I was transported back in time. My heart started to ache and tears welled in my eyes, happy tears, wishing I could once again talk to my dear Old Nanny.

Those tablecloths remain unwashed in my cabinet. I don't want to lose that smell of moth balls, old wood, and something sweet. For it's the smell of my Grandma's house, if only all smells could be so endearing.

Saturday, August 9, 2014

I took Lancaster County for granted when I was growing-up. I found the endless corn fields and supply of fresh produce in exciting. Yet years later, we stop and watch the horse and buggies trot by and look at awe at each Amish community. I am glad that I can share this experience with my children. We head home with a car full of fresh picked corn, melons, a shoe-fly pie for our neighbor, and sweet bologna.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Did you know you can download a free copy of Leigh Bortin’s book, Echo in Celebration? Visit LeighBortins.com for your free copy. The free download is located on the right hand side of her blog. It's a lovely book on how to encourage the life long learners and it's a simply read.

If you are like me...you have been staying up late prepping for the new school year. I pulled this one out of the archives. It's hard to forget week 1, it's always the first one that comes to mind when I give someone a CC example.

Along with our study each girls will keep a nature journal, nothing fancy, just another way to record what they see by drawing, sketching, and doodling. These take along guides found here at Amazon should help us on our nature journey. I hope you come along too!

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Hi, I'm Karen- I homeschool, craft, sew, cook, garden, and tinker with broken things. Olive-10, Jem-7, and Happy-3 are my train conductors that lead the way. It's not always a smooth ride, but it's a calling that I am grateful to accept.